Herbert Parker Lansdale, Jr. was born on March 7, 1898 in Baltimore,
Maryland. His father, Herbert Parker Lansdale, Sr. was the general secretary of
the Rochester, New York YMCA from 1911 until his retirement in 1929. His mother
was Lida R. Eppley Lansdale. His only sibling, Robert T. Lansdale (1900-1980),
served as the New York Commissioner of Social Welfare under Governor Thomas E.
Dewey from 1943 until 1953.

Lansdale graduated from East High School, Rochester, NY in 1915. He
attended Oberlin College, where he received his B.A. in 1919 and his Masters in
1920. Honorary degrees bestowed upon him in later life included Doctors of
Humanities from Beaver College in 1954, Springfield College in 1957 and Oberlin
College in 1959; and an LL.D. from George Williams College in 1957.

Lansdale spent the majority of his professional career working with
the YMCA. His positions included: education director of the Worcester, MA, YMCA
(1920-1925); general secretary of the Saloniki, Greece, YMCA (1925-1931);
national director of the Greek YMCAs (1927-1939); general secretary of the
Rochester, NY, YMCA (1939-1952); executive secretary of the International
Committee of YMCAs of the United States and Canada (1952-1957); general
secretary of the United States National Council of YMCAs (1957-1964); secretary
of the Rochester Community Chest (now called the United Way) (1964-1966); and
as assistant to the president of Colgate Rochester Divinity School (1967-1972).

Lansdale married his first wife, Marjorie M. McKay in 1922 (d. March
1950). She was the mother of his two sons, Dr. Herbert Parker Lansdale III
(known as "Parker") and Bruce McKay Lansdale. Parker Lansdale graduated from
Monroe High School, Rochester, NY in 1942 and went on to graduate from Yale
Divinity School as an ordained minister. His life's work has concentrated on
the YMCA. Bruce Lansdale also attended Monroe High School, as well as the
University of Rochester, from which he graduated in 1946. He served as Director
of the American Farm School in Thessaloniki, Greece from 1954 to 1990.

Lansdale's second wife was Mrs. Grace H. Hartley (d. March 1953). Her
children were Peter and Ann. His third wife was Mrs. Jessie L. Howell, who
survived him. Her daughter by her first marriage was Jacqueline.

Herbert Parker Lansdale, Jr. died on September 13, 1988 in Palo Alto,
CA, where he had retired.

Biographical information is quoted from the finding aid for the
Herbert Parker Lansdale, Jr. Papers, 1863-1982, at the University of Rochester
River Campus Libraries.

The bulk of the collection is correspondence written by and to Herb
and his wife Jessie during their stay in Athens, Greece after Herb's retirement
in 1972. Also included are personal materials, including extensive genealogical
material, as well as circular letters sent from Athens, which describe the
political climate there during the early 1970s. The development of the YMCA in
Greece is documented in a series of correspondence and documents collected by
Lansdale. The American Farm School in Thessaloniki, Greece, which was headed by
Lansdale's son Bruce is also documented in this collection.

This collection is protected by the Copyright Law of the United States
(Title 17, U.S. Code). It is the user's responsibility to verify copyright,
ownership, and to obtain all the necessary permissions prior to the
reproduction, publication, or other use of any portion of these materials.

Certificates were given to passengers to signify crossings of
the equator or inter-continental flights.

Certificates, 1920-1957.

Certificates of appreciation given to Lansdale from various
organizations in the United States.

Circular letters from Athens, 1964, 1973-1979.

Letters sent to friends and family by the Lansdales.

Date books, 1972-1976.

Donations, correspondence, 1964, 1967-1968, 1971-1972.

Correspondence primarily from the University of Cincinnati and
the University of Maryland regarding donations of materials.

Greek certificates of appreciation, undated.

Guest book, 1925-1953, 1973-1980, 1983-1988.
6 folders.

Box 5

Guest book, 1957-1983. 2 folders.

Honorary Degrees:

Box 1

Beaver College, Doctor of Humane Letters, 1954.

George Williams College, Doctor of Laws, 1957.

Springfield College, Doctor of Humanics, 1958.

Oberlin College, Doctor of Humane Letters,
1959.

Itineraries, 1955-1964, 1972, 1977-1979.

Knights of Saint Andrew, 1974-1980.

Box 5

Knights of Saint Andrew directory, 1983.

The Order of St. Andrew of the Ecumenical Patriarchate was
organized in 1966 to bestow patriarchal titles upon laymen in the Americas who
through their love, loyalty and support to the Patriarchate have contributed
much to its advancement and welfare.

Photographs depicting Lansdale's extended family, Greece, and various
celebrations in his honor were separated from the papers and are available in
the Kautz Family YMCA Archives Photograph Collection.

The following related materials are available at other archival
repositories:

This collection is indexed under the following headings in the catalog
of the University of Minnesota Libraries. Researchers desiring materials about
related topics, persons or places should search the catalog using these
headings.

E-mail questions or comments to: ymcaarch@umn.eduURL:
http://special.lib.umn.edu/findaid/html/ymca/yusa0022.phtml |Last revised:
April 17, 2007
Please credit the Kautz Family YMCA Archives, University of Minnesota Libraries
if you copy or reproduce material from this page.